A recently attributed oil painting by renowned English artist William Turner has been uncovered in a private collection in Vienna, sparking excitement in the art world. The painting, believed to be a lost work, is set to go on sale, according to the Artzwina gallery, which conducted the investigation.
The artwork is described as a 'sister painting' to Turner's famous piece 'Venice, seen from the Canale della Giudecca, with the Santa Maria della Salute Church,' housed in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. The gallery confirmed that extensive scientific and art-historical analyses support this attribution.
While the painting's provenance remains partially unclear, it is estimated to have been in Austria since the 1950s, with a purchase record dating back to 1980. The current owner acquired it from a private collector in 2005, and suspicions regarding its authenticity prompted them to seek Artzwina’s expertise.
A 50-page study titled 'Joseph Mallord William Turner: A Rediscovery' concludes that only Turner could have created this piece, dating it to around 1840. Franz Smola, curator at Vienna’s Belvedere Museum and co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of the find, stating, 'It’s a wonderful rediscovery of a masterpiece in Vienna.'
Additionally, the discovery sheds light on Turner’s color palette, revealing new insights into his artistic techniques. The owner is keen to sell the painting in the international art market, although a specific auction date or price has yet to be determined.